Aerthys

As Baltimore's dark essence dissipated into the ether, Thorn lay on the cold, unforgiving ground, his body wracked with pain, his life slipping away. The battle's end brought no joy, only the bitter taste of imminent farewell.

Josh and Scotch, their faces streaked with tears, knelt beside him, their hands shaking as they tried to comfort their friend, their brother in arms. "Thorn, hold on, please," Josh pleaded, his voice breaking.

Thorn's eyes fluttered open, his gaze weak but filled with a serene acceptance. He looked at his friends, his comrades, with a love that transcended the pain. "I can see her... my wife... she's smiling," he whispered, his voice barely a breath.

Scotch, gripping Thorn's hand tightly, sobbed openly. "You can't leave us, Thorn. Not like this."

Thorn managed a slight shake of his head, his eyes softening even more. "I won't leave... I'll watch over you all. From... from above." He paused, gathering strength for his final words. "Tell my children... tell them their father loved them more than the stars in the sky."

A tear escaped from Thorn's eye, rolling down his cheek, mingling with the blood on the ground. "Promise me, you'll keep them safe... guide them... let them know..." His voice faltered, his strength waning.

Josh, his voice choked with emotion, nodded fervently. "We promise, Thorn. We'll make sure they know. They'll know everything about their brave father."

Thorn's hand weakly moved to his chest, where a locket lay hidden beneath his armor. "Give this to them... so they remember me." With trembling fingers, he managed to unclasp it, revealing a small, worn picture of his family.

The last light of the day seemed to fall just on Thorn, casting a gentle glow around him, making his features almost ethereal. He looked towards the setting sun, his breaths becoming slower, more labored. "I'm coming home, love," he murmured, his last words a whisper of love, of hope, of an eternal promise.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Thorn's hand fell limp, his eyes closing for the last time. The silence that followed was profound, filled with the weight of loss and the echo of heroism. Josh and Scotch wept, their grief a testament to the bonds they shared, to the sacrifice they had just witnessed.

In that moment, the battlefield, once a place of violence, became sacred ground, a place where love transcended death, where a hero's story ended but his legacy began. Thorn's name would be whispered in stories, his courage celebrated in songs, his love for his family an eternal flame in the hearts of those he left behind.

Josh: I hope miss Burnham is still traveling to Ignisia, Because we have won the battle just like Thorn said so

5 hours remaining till the kings summit...

40 years ago in Ignisia

" Hello Arin" a voice coming from a wall above the right hand of prince Arin( Prince Arin is the king of ignisia in the present) He sees a boy about his age sitting up there looking down on him " Who are you child? " Arin ask the boy " My name is Thorn , I live just a few blocks away from this castle."

Arin: Hey get down! From there or i will call the guards on you!

Thorn stand up from the wall" This garden is beautiful, no wonder you always come here."

Arin surprised " Are you spying on me??, get out of here or i will call the guards on you.

Thorn: Relax my prince , If i wanted to harm you i could have done it weeks ago.

Arin: what do you want ?

Thorn:Nothing lets just be friends.

Arin: i dont need friends, Im the prince of Ignisia i have better things to do .

The prince faces the castles doors and walks into the castle , Thorn looks at him walking in the castle and walks away

Day 2

" Hello prince Arin "Thorn greets him from the same position as the day before

Arin: You ...What do you want i said i have better things to do then deal with deal with you.

Thorn sits down from the wall and ask " Dont you get tired of watching the same flowers everytime?"

Arin: No , let me ask you , how do you sneak pass the guards?

Thorn: Now that i wont tell .

The prince looks at him and walks away

Day 3

"Hello prince Arin ."The prince takes a rock throws it at him, Thorn dodges and runs away

Day 4

" Hello prince Arin "

Arin: Thorn im really getting tired of you , leave me alone .

Thorn: why would i leave a friend alone.

Arin: We are not friends.

Thorn: We are not? , And for some reason you keep coming back here , knowing full well that i will be here.

Arin : leave me alone will you.

Thorn stands up and leaves

Day 5

Prince Arin goes to the garden and to the same flowers he goes to everyday ( red spider Lilly)

" Hhhm he didn't come today . Not that i care anyway."

Day 6

" Hello prince Arin."

Arin: Good morning to you Thorn

Thorn: you finally greeted me back , Miss me?

Arin: I do not miss you , in fact i was happy ...I thought the guards have finally cought you.

Thorn jumps from up the wall and lands on his feet," Huh what are you doing ?!! Are you crazy?" Prince Arin shouts in concern for him

Thorn: You have never been outside the castle , Meet me here tomorrow .

Arin: I wont be leaving this place , I need to explore anything

Thorn: One day you will be king, what kind of a king that doesn't even know how his people live , If you want to be a greate king you will follow me.

Thorn turn around about to leave " wait." Arin stops him .

Arin: Tomorrow i wont be around , lets go today.

Thorn: Oky

Arin: Thats all it takes to convince you ?

Thorn grabs Arins hand ," to escape we need to into the castle , the path i take will both get cought , so you know how the guard work inside the castle and i know outside the castle."

4 hours later they escape the castle unnoticed, so they thought, One guard has seen them and reported to the prince personal assistant (Orion)and he follows them secretively.

Arin : So where do you live , show me your house first

Thorn: oky

Thorn and Arin arrive in a brocken down house with one room remaining and with a door full of scars" This in my home, lets get inside." They both go inside . The prince sees Thorns parents on pictures on the walls , the room had one bed a table with cabbage on top some carrots and a sack of pap.

Arin: Hey , where are your perents at?

Thorn: Oooh , I never known my parents , all i have of them is this pictures , Their the closest thing to knowing my family right now.

Arin: Im sorry, i should have...

Thorn: Its fine, Im used to it ...I have you now .

Arin : Dont you have friends?

Thorn:I did but i left them because they used to bully me .

Arin: Because you lack elemental abilities ,right?

Thorn: How do you know?

Arin : i have been trying to feel your core for a while but i cant detect it .

Thorn: Ooh oky lets go to the markets

Thorn and Arin exit the house , about to leave then a group of boys arrive " Hello Thorn , looks like today we finally cought you." A group of 5 boy with young Blackwood Thane as the leader serround them.

To be continued...